PLATTEVILLE, June 17 — The Wisconsin tradition of June dairy breakfasts combines two traditions — June Dairy Month and the old admonition that “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
As it happened this year two of them were within 20 minutes of each other. Also as it happened our daughter was home from the weekend. So off we went.
I wrote here last week that farm events — what is now known as “ag tourism” — are important as the distance increases, even in a rural area like this, between us and our food.
That includes your favorite weekly newspaper editor. My godparents had a farm east of Sun Prairie, but they didn’t live on the farm. My memories of their farm are hazy beyond a very small camper, one tractor ride, and a shed where my father kept his 1962 Chevrolet Impala convertible in the winter. My grandfather was an Allis–Chalmers dealer in Richland Center, and due to that I had a bright orange Allis–Chalmers pedal tractor. Most of what I might know about farming comes either from watching WISC-TV’s Farm Hour growing up (without understanding what “barrows and gilts” were) or from marrying into a Grant County farm family and, as a reporter should do, asking questions.
This weekend was another test as well for The Leg. So far it’s been from the prosthetist to shopping malls, our non-handicap-accessible house, various places in Platteville and elsewhere, and softball and baseball games, which are played on fields that are not exactly level.
Saturday’s breakfast at the UW–Platteville Pioneer Farm included shuttles from the late Scott Implement. That forced me to figure out the last time I was on a school bus as a passenger. Once I got on someone asked if I was a veteran, noting my U.S. flag design on my artificial, uh, calf. I said what I always say, that I am only a veteran of the First Amendment wars. (Maybe I can print the First Amendment on my next leg, because free speech is patriotic regardless of who is in office.)
A few other people said that they were happy I was out in the world going to events again. I am happy to be out too. Even though I got to as many things going on as I could (including games) with the walker, it is nonetheless much easier to get around with The Leg. Among other things I can get my own plate of breakfast and don’t need to rely on others’ help to get served.
My added feature is a cane with the bottom that allows it to (usually) stand up on its own. This is also an improvement from the walker, though the walker does have value for its carry bag and cup holder. But carrying anything independent of the walker (such as a camera bag) is somewhat of a struggle, and the more you put in the bag, the harder it swings back and hits you in your legs, including the leg that doesn’t reach the ground anymore.
Going to a farm hosting a dairy breakfast isn’t quite like going to a typical working farm. Farms that host public events are cleaned up for visitors for obvious reasons. So far I haven’t been to a farm in which I need to watch my step, but I need to watch my step basically anywhere I go anyway because I am not quite sure what to do if I wipe out on my new leg. Sockets into which what’s left of your leg fits don’t work as well as actual knees.
I had an extended conversation with an elected official Saturday about how I’ve been doing. Then I got asked a question: How is your mind? (That’s a question that probably shouldn’t be asked of people in my line of work, just because.) He talked about getting a knee replacement and basically being able to do nothing at work, requiring help wherever he went.
I can certainly relate to that. There’s nothing quite as humbling as being in a hospital and needing assistance to go to the bathroom or anything else we’re usually able to do by ourselves before preschool. (At least I could get out of my hospital bed; I am aware that some hospital patients can’t.) The walker has been used to block open doors to bathrooms and stalls and other doors to other places that are not exactly handicap-accessible. I have needed help just to move around for months.
But here’s the thing: I’ve gotten that help, from family members, friends, those with whom I am announcing games or where I am announcing games, people who know me from the pages of this newspaper, and complete strangers I encounter walking in and out of wherever I’m going. When you are dragging with one leg garbage cans and people you’ve never met who just happen to be going by offer to help, that tells you you’re living in the right place. That and paying $6 and $10, respectively, for breakfast, with cute baby farm animals included.
